Method and apparatus eos



Oct. 5 1926.

l C. A. SPOTZ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING CRUDE OILS FROM SHALEFiled'June 8, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. A. SPOTZ LUNG CRUDE OILS FROMSHALE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTI 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June C/M NKPADDL ES Patented Get. 5, 1926.

rarest METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING CRUDE OILS FROM SHALE.

Application filed June 8, 1925.

Serial No. 35,648.

My present invention relates to an im- 6 designates a hopper for theshale, which proved method of, and apparatus for distilling volatilematter from shale and like material, and aims to provide a method andmeans whereby the shale will be quickly heated, all the volatile matterelfectively driven therefrom, and. the spent material ejected, in acontinuous manner and without loss of volatile material.

The invention further aims to accomplish these objects in such a mannerthat the sh ale may be operated upon at a relatively low temperature,and for a relatively short period of time, whereby a better petroleumyield is secured in a rapid and economical With these and other objectsin view,

which will hereinafter appear, the invention includes the novel methodand apparatus F hereinafter described and particularly defined by theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectionthrough a retort constructed in accordance with my invention and adaptedfor carrying out my improved method, and I Fig. 2 is a transversesection.

Figs. 3, 4- and 5 are detail views.

Referring by reference characters to this drawing, the numeral 1designates a retort, closed except for the openings hereinafterspecified, preferably of elongated form, and adapted to contain moltenmetal, indicated at 2, and adapted to be heated to maintain the metal atthe desired temperature by a flue 3 for heated gases, this being merelyrepresentative of any desired form of heating means. j

The retort is provided adjacent its initial or feed end, with apartition wall 4 which forms, with the end wall 1*, a guideway withinwhich works a vertically reciprocating pusher 5 having its lower faceinclined upwardly and rearwardly, or away from the feed end. The wall etterminates a short distance below the level of the molten metal andabove the bottom of the retort, whereby the lower end of the guideway isin .communication with the main portion of the etort, the 'uideway beingfilled with the molten meta to the same levelr' communicates at itslower end with the guideway above the surface ofthemetal. It will thusbe seen that when the plunger is raised above the hopper opening, theshale or other material will flow into the guideway onto the surface ofthe metal therein, and that when the plunger descends the ma terial willbe forced down into the bath until it is in position to ride off theinclined face of the plunger into the bath in the main or volatilizationportion of the retort.

Preferably the plunger is provided with a gate 5 having a limitedsliding movement relative to the face of the plunger, whereby as theplunger descends, the gate 5 will move down with it until the feedopening is closed which will prevent the shale from entering the spaceabove the plunger when the latter continues its movement to the positionindicated in dotted lines Fig. 1. This will prevent interference withthe full upward movement of the plunger. The gate is provided near itsupper end with a projection a resting in an open topped recess in thejuxtaposed face of the plunger, so that as the plunger rises the gatewill open the feed opening.

' l have found that if lumps of shale are kept submerged in a bath ofmolten metal by a reticulated member and are agitated vhile sosubmerged, as the heat of the bath reduces the shale and frees thevolatile matter, this action takes place on each lump from the surfaceinward and the reduced particles on the surface will be removed by theagitation and will pass upward through the openings in the reticulatedmen'ibcr, leaving fresh unreduced surfaces on the lumps 5 which are morequickly acted upon by the bath. By taking advantage of this fact, I findthat I can drive off all the volatile matter at a relatively lowtemperature (800 F. or less), which produces the best petroleum yield,and at the same time the volatile material will all be driven from theshale in a relatively short period. By agitating the material in such amanner that it is caused to progressively move through the retort, theprocess is made continuous, the lumps or pieces of shale beingprogressively freed from the reduced particles and being in a conditionto be more quickly acted on by the relatively low temperature moltenbath.

By operating on the shale in this manner If. End that the material maybe fed to the retort in relatively large pieces without detracting fromthe speed or efficiency of the process. To this end I provide areticulated member 7 which may conveniently be made in the form of aperforated metal plate of stepped formation with the rises of the stepsfacing the delivery end, said member 7 be1ng preferably inclinedupwardly slightly towards the rear or delivery end, as shown.

A rectilinear reciprocating motion being imparted to this agitating andconveying member 7, it will be seen that the material is gradually,progressively, or continuously worked along through the molten bath,whereby it is agitated and thoroughly subjected to the heating actionthereof, the volatilized gases rising through the perforations to thesurface of the liquid and the interior of the retort, whence they aredelivered through the outlet 1", which may be con nected with anysuitable treating apparatus, such for example as a condenser (notshown). Due to this agitation and the action of the molten bath, thereduced particles on. the exterior of the lumps or pieces of shale, arerubbed off or dislodged from the lumps, and these are of suflicientfineness to pass through the openings in the member 7, which are flaredto prevent clogging. These particles will rise to and collect on thesurface, though due to their fineness, all contained volatile matterwill have been eliminated. The fresh surfaces exposed to the bath by theremoval'of the reduced coatings will be at once acted on by the heatresulting in a further reducing and removal of particles in aprogressive and continuous manner, until by the time the delivery end ofthe retort has been reached, the lumps will have been disintegrated to alarge extent. I

For urging the collected particles towards the delivery end of theretort, I provide agitating and conveying means in the shape of blades 8mounted on shafts 8 journaled in end bearing caps 8 in one of the wallsof the retort, which caps may be suitably packed, as shown, such shaftsextending through openings in the other wall and through suitablestuffing boxes, and. being adapted to be driven through suitable chainand sprocket connections. This method of mounting forms a veryconvenient manner of assembly, as the blades are preferably carriedformed integral with sleeves 8, vhich may be inserted between the wallsin align ment with the bearing. openings and the shaft slipped throughand thereafter pinned or otherwise secured to the sleeve. At thedelivery end the retortis provided with two transverse partitions 9 and10 respectively, forming therebetween a guideway in which works aplunger 11 having an inclined lower face corresponding to the lower faceof the plunger 5. The rear end of the retort is provided with a deliveryopening 1 located above the level of the molten bath, through which thespent material is delivered to a suitable conveyor shown conventionallyin Fig. 1. The partition 10 extends below the level of the bath,thoughterminating short of the bottom of the retort, thereby forming aliquid seal to the. interior of the retort at the delivery end, in thesame manner that I the conve or durin its reci rocatin' move-1 y D C!ment. Any particles or lumps of shale not completely disintegrated intheir passage beneath the screen, will collect beneath the shelf 14 andbe discharged by the plunger 11.

It will be obvious that variousmeans might be used for operating therespective elements, but the preferred means, and that shown in thedrawings, will w bedescribed.

The shafts 8 are connected to rotate in unison by a sprocket chainpassing over or around aligned sprockets on the shafts (see dotted linesFig. 1). The reciprocating agitator and conveyor is suspended byswinging arms 7 and 7", the formerbeing fast at their upper ends onrockshafts journaled in suitable bearings in the retort walls, which rockshafts carry fast on their outerends, actuator arms 7, the lower ends ofwhich cooperate with cams 15 fast on shaft 16, which cams force thelinks 7 towards the delivery end with a relatively slow or grad ualmovement, the reverse movement being accomplished by the action of aspring or springs 17 when the abrupt or stepped portion of the cam isaligned with, or passes by, the corresponding contact portion of itscooperating arm. Shaft 16 carries a sprocket 18 driven by a sprocketchain from a sprocln et 8 on one ofthe shafts 8 A convenient manner ofeffecting the drive is to provide a motor on the top of or abovetheretort, the shaft of which is connected by a sprocket chain indicated indotted lines, Fig. 1, with a sprocket wheel on, shaft 19, which shaftcarries a sprocket 19 which in turn drives the said shaft 8 (leftFig. 1) through sprocket chain 19" and sprocket 8".

The crank 19 is connected by link 20 with a walking beam 21, theopposite ends of which are connected by links 22 and 23 plungers 5 and11 respectively.

to the :1

I have found that a moving reticulated member, such for example asdisclosed, serves both as a screen to keep the lumps submerged in thebath, and as an agitator, but it is obvious that if desired the screenmight be made stationar and separate agitating and conveying meansemployed, or a tubular rotary inclined reticulated member or memberscould be used, the material being fed into the lower end and the spentmaterial discharged at the opposite higher end,

- The material of the bath may be lead, tin, Zinc or other suitablemetal or a combination of metals.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The hereindescribed method of treating shale and like material to drive offvolatile mattertherefrom, which consists in moving said materialsubstantially horizontally below the surface of a bath of heated fluidmetal of higher specific gravity than the said material, allowing thefiner particles of the material to rise to the surface of the bath,moving said particles along the surface of the bath to be dischargedwith the spent submerged material, and carrying off the volatilepro-ducts arising from the surface of the bath under constant exclusionof air, substantially as described.

2. A retort comprising a bath of molten metal means for feeding materialof less specific gravity than the metal into the bath at one sidethereof, reticulated means for moving the larger particles of thematerial through the bath beneath the surface thereof, means for movingthe finer particles of the material whichpasses through the reticulatedmeans along the surface of the bath in the same direction, and means forremoving spent material from beneath the bath and from the surfacethereof.

3. A retort comprising a chamber containing a heated fluid metal bath,means for feeding material of less specific gravity than the metal intothe bath at one part thereof, means for moving the larger particles ofthe material through the bath beneath the surface thereof, means formoving the finer particles of the material along the sur face of thebath, and means for removing spent material from beneath the surface ofthe bath and from the said surface, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a retort containing a molten metal bath, of areticulated agitator and conveyor means located beneath'the surface ofthe bath, means for feeding material into the bath at one end of saidconveyor, means at the surface of the bath for urging floating materialin the same direction as that submerged in the bath, and means forremoving the material from the bath and the surface thereof.

5. The combination with a retort containing a molten metal bath, of areticulated member mounted to reciprocate approximately horizontallybeneath. the surface of the bath, means for feeding the material to betreated into the bath beneath one end of said member, and means forremoving the spent material from the bath at the other end of themember.

6. The combination with a retort containing a molten metal bath, of areticulated member mounted to reciprocate approximately horizontallybeneath the surface of the bath, means for feeding the material to betreated into the bath beneath one end of said membe a series of rotaryagitators adjacent the surface of the bath, and means for removing spentmaterial from beneath and from the surface of the bath.

7. A retort comprising a chamber containing a molten metal bath, apartition in said retort having its lower end submerged in the metal,and Liorn'iing with the retort end a guide chamber, a. reciprocatingpusher element in said guide chamber having an inclined lower face,means for feeding mato be treated to said guide chamber, means formaintaining the material beneath the su face of the bath, and meansindependent of the said maintaining means for removing spent materialfrom the retort.

8. A retort comprising a chamber containing molten metal, a partition insaid tcr i retort having its lower end submerged int-he metal andforming with the retort end a guide chamber, a reciprocating pusherelement in said guide chamber having an inclined lower face, a hoppercommunicating with said guide chamber, a slidable gate between saidguide chamber and hopper with means whereby it is operated by the pusherelement, and means for removing spent material from the retort.

9. A retort comprising an elongated chamber containing a molten metalbath, partitions at the ends thereof forming guidways communicating withthe retort beneatlrthe surface of the metal, laterally projectingshelves carried by said partitions, a reciprocating reticulated.conveyor element located beneath the surface of the bath and having itsends located beneath said shelves, means for feeding material to betreated into one guideway, and means for removing it from the otherguideway.

10. A retort comprising a chamber containing a molten metal bath, meansfor feeding material into the metal below the surface thereof at one endmeans for caus ing a travel of said material towards the other end, andmeans for ejecting the spent material comprising a pair of partitionsspaced from each other and from the end wall, said partitions forming aguidewa terminating beneath the surface of the mai ten metal, thedelivery end ofthe retort 'chamber above the intermediate treatingsection of the bath for receiving gas from the material treated, saidchamber being sealed by said bath from the inlet and outlets thereof,means for feeding the material into the bath at the inlet section, meansfor moving the material substantially horizontally beneath the surfaceof the intermediate section of the bath, and for separating the finerparticles to rise to the surface while the coarser material remainssul'm'ierged, and means for moving the finer particles along the surfaceof the bath for their discharge, substantially as described.

12'. A retort comprising a chamber containing a bath of heated fluidmetal, a gas receiving chamber above the bath continuously sealedagainst access of atmospheric air by the material of the bath, means forfeeding material for treatment below the surface of the bath and meansfor moving I it below said surface substantiallyhorizontally, saidlatter means being Wholly submerged in said bath, substantially as described. i

18. A retort comprising a chamber containing a bath of heated. fluidmetal for treatment of oil bearing shale, a gas receiving chamber abovethe bath, means for submerging the material below the surface of thebath and for moving it horizontally while allowing the finer particlesof the material to rise to the surface of the bath, means for moving thefiner particles along the surface of the bath to be discharged, said gaschamber being continuously sealed by the metal of the bath againstaccess of air for receiving the volatile products from said materialarising from the bath, substantially as described. p

14. A retort comprising a chamber containing a bath of heated fluidmetal for the treatment of oil bearing shale, with a gas receivingchamber above the bath, means for moving the material below the surfaceof the bath substantially horizontally and for separating the finer fromthe coarser parts of said material, whereby he finer particles will riseto the surface of the bath and the coarser parts remain submerged, andmeans for moving the finer material along the surface of the bath forits discharge from the bath, substantially as described. r

15. A retort comprising a, chamber containing .a bath of heated fluidmetal for the treatment of oil bearing shale, a gas receiving chan'iberabove the bath, a reticulated member submerged in the bath and throughwhich finer particles of the material may rise to the surface of thebath together with volatile products passing into said gas receivingchamber, and means for moving the liner particles along the surface ofthe bath for their discharge therefrom, substantially as described.

16. The herein described process of treating oil bearing shale and thelikecomprising initially introducing the material below the surface of abath of heated fluid metal of higher specific gravity than the materialbe ing treated, moving the said material. horizontally below the surfaceof the bath, allowing the fine material to rise to the surface of thebath continuously from the strata of submerged material as it progressesthrough the bath and allowing the volatile products to rise from thesubmerged material through the bath and recovering said products underconstant exclusion of air, and discharging the spent fine material fromthe surface of the bath and the spent coarser material from out of thebath, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

CHESTER A. SPOTZ.

